Sciatica Pain Relief

Sciatica pain is often referred to as a specialized back pain that is experienced along the sciatic nerve which is located in the lower end of the spinal cord. This nerve runs along the back of the spinal cord, covering the buttocks, pelvis and back of the legs. Sciatica symptoms and sciatic nerve pain is a common phenomenon and is experienced by many. There are several causes that could lead to sciatica pain like a herniated disc, muscle strain, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis of the spine and spondylolisthesis. This pain could get extremely severe and cause a lot of discomfort for most who experience it, that is why it is important to know what some of the sciatica pain relief methods are so that proper care can be administered.

Sciatica Exercises

One might think that exercising will make the condition worse, but the opposite is in fact true. Exercising will help to clear out the muscle strain and there are certain specialized stretches that can be carried out to bring about relief from this condition. Most often, specialized sciatica pain exercises are administered for patients. These will involve hamstring stretches, aerobic exercises, strengthening core muscles and other specifically prepared exercises as well.

Exercise # 1

1. Lie on your back and bend your knees.
2. Make sure that your feet are flat on the ground.
3. Now put your hands behind your knees and begin to pull your leg until it points upwards.
4. And then straighten the leg until you can feel a stretch.
5. Stay in this position for 30 seconds.
6. Repeat the same cycle of the sciatica stretching 3-4 times for maximum relief.
7. Repeat the same on the other leg.

Exercise # 2

1. Take a towel, roll it and place at the back of your spine such that one end is near the waist and the other near the sacrum.
2. Now make fists of your hand and place them behind your head.
3. Do this for 5 minutes for instant relief.
4. After this take a break and go for a walk.

Exercise # 3

1. Lie on the floor and bend one leg such that the foot is flat on the ground.
2. The other leg should be straight.
3. Your lower back should be flat on the floor.
4. Raise your leg 8-10 inches off the ground. Be conscious of keeping your abdominal muscles tight at all times.
5. Hold the position for 10 seconds and then lower the leg slowly.
6. Repeat the same routine with the other leg and to strengthen your lower abs, this exercise should be done in about 10 leg raises a day.

Exercise # 4

1. Lie flat on the ground and bend your knees.
2. Keeping your feet flat on the ground, lower the knees to one side and then the opposite side.
3. Make sure that your lower back is as still as possible.
4. Rock your knee from side to side for about 30 seconds or so.

Sciatica is quite a common phenomenon during pregnancy because of the added pressure on the back. That is why sciatica pain during pregnancy is something that should not be ignored. Many times, a specialized massage is also administered if the condition is seen to be getting worse and stimulation of certain muscles is needed. A doctor might administer certain key massages for a pregnant woman.

Sciatica Medication

While all these physical therapy methods are used for pain relief from sciatica, administering specialized medication is also taken as one of the preferred forms of treatment. Usually, anti-inflammatory drugs are administered for pain relief. These are prescribed when the pain is mild. However when the pain is excruciatingly strong, then stronger pain medication or muscle relaxants are administered. There might even be cases of antidepressants and in certain specialized cases, an epidural shot might also be advised. In certain serious cases, surgery might be the only option that remains.

Now that you know the different ways in which sciatica pain relief may be administered and the different treatment options available, you can keep a watch for the same and contact your doctor immediately if there is even a doubt of you suffering from sciatica pain.